A Drive at Dawn

Screened at Black Sunday Film Festival Three men from a remote town race into the desert with a dangerous captive. In a ball of fear and hate, they struggle to do what’s right, but there is no easy solution – and all of them will be forever changed by dawn. This award-winning short by Director Joe D’Ovidio is expertly executed. With a runtime of just seven minutes, it delivers an impactful story with a great cast of actors who carry the narrative with no dialogue. You’re immediately thrown into the action and at once your mind is racing – why did they capture the person who’s bound in their trunk? How could they treat someone this way? What did they do to deserve this? Then just as soon as the questions are asked, they’re answered with dramatic effect. As an audience member, you’re left reeling feeling like a gut punch has been delivered and the actions of some characters are justified. The camera choices are incredible, and I love the colour palette. Come the end of the short, the film is baked in the sun’s early rays and the true horror hits home. This is an emotional mystery with a neo-western style and an absolute must see for any fan of the horror genre. A Drive At Dawn is an incredible feat of filmmaking and left a lasting impression on me. I truly hope this is a proof of concept for a feature film as there is so much depth, and endless possibilities to be explored.